std-symptoms-in-men

STD Symptoms in Men

There’s no doubt about it: sex is a fun and enjoyable thing. What’s not so “fun and enjoyable,” however, is contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Unfortunately, though, every time you choose to have unprotected sex, you put yourself at risk of contracting an STD. While some STDs can be cured, some cannot. Furthermore, almost all STDs can easily be passed on to other partners not long after transmission. With so many risks involved in unsafe sex, it’s best to avoid it at all costs. If you’ve made a few transgressions in the past, however, it’s important to get tested for an STD. Many people think it’s enough to just take the “watch and wait” approach and to see if they develop any symptoms, but that doesn’t always work so well since many STDs do not cause noticeable symptoms!

The Most Common STDs

Even knowing that not all STDs cause noticeable symptoms, you still may be curious about the most common STD symptoms in men. Really, though, the symptoms experienced all depend on the disease. While there are many possible STDs, the most common include:

HPV

Chlamydia

Gonorrhea

Syphilis

Hepatitis

Herpes

Different Diseases, Different Symptoms

As you can imagine, with so many different STDs, symptoms can vary greatly from one man to another and from one disease to another. And, again, not all STDs cause any symptoms whatsoever, meaning you or a partner could be infected without realizing it! With that said, however, when symptoms do occur in males, they typically fall into one of the following three categories:

Cause genital lesions/sores to form on the penis, typically at the site of contact

Cause inflammation of the urethra, which may lead to burning or painful urination

STDs that cause other bodily symptoms, which vary from disease to disease

Getting Help

If you are experiencing any of these common STD symptoms in men, visit your doctor or a local clinic that offers STD testing. Even if you are not experiencing symptoms, it can still be smart to get tested. This is especially true if you are at an increased risk for STDs. People who are at an increased risk for STDs include:

Those who inject drugs

Those who engage in sex for drugs or money

Those who have multiple partners

Those who have unknown partners

Those who do not practice safe sex

Some STDs cannot be discovered immediately after transmission. A select few diseases have a “window” period during which you are infected but the infection is not yet detectable. As such, you may need to schedule your visit a set amount of time after the potential infection might have occurred. Your doctor can talk with you about the best time to schedule testing. Your doctor should also discuss with you the importance of protecting yourself. Many STDs are deadly and permanent, and you don’t want to take those kinds of chances with your body and your health no matter what